FLINT, Michigan -- The inner circle of the group working to recall Mayor Don Williamson includes two who wanted to be mayor and an attorney trying to win $11 million from the city.

This eclectic group also includes a police sergeant and two fervently outspoken Williamson critics.

And so far, the group has proven itself organized and politically savvy -- doling out cash for signatures on recall petitions, accumulating $10,000 in campaign funds and forming a nonprofit political organization that will keep its financial backers secret.

Williamson said he's not worried about the recall effort and he doesn't care who the organizers are for the group that calls itself Committee for a Better Flint.

• Recall organizer Alex Harris, a retired prison guard who started the recall. He is known for his long rants at City Council meetings.

• Donna Poplar, a consultant and former head of the Genesee County Community Action Agency. She's also part of the political group Sisters United.

• Flint police Sgt. Rick Hetherington, head of Flint's sergeant's union. He was suspended and temporarily fired (the city rescinded the termination) for speaking to the media.

• Greg Eason, a businessman who used to run the Job Corps. He was a campaign manager for former state Rep. Vera Rison, D-Flint, when she ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1999. He also considered running for mayor in 2002.

• Dale Weighill, heads of the Resource Center. He ran for mayor in 2007.

• Dean Yeotis, an attorney. He won a verdict now worth $11 million from the city over sewer backups. The city is appealing that verdict.

• Volunteer work: Does ministerial work and helps raise money for breast cancer awareness and research.

Greg Eason

• Personal: Married to Karen Aldridge-Eason

• Occupation: Businessman, former head of the Job Corps
Eason could not be reached for comment.

Rick Hetherington

• Age: 42

• Personal: Married, four children

• Occupation: Flint police officer, seeking a law degree

• Volunteer work: Belongs to the Masons and Shriners

The recall claims Williamson is responsible for the city's budget deficit. The issue is set for Feb. 24 ballot, barring any successful legal challenge.

If the recall passes, it would be the second time voters have mid-term fired a Flint mayor in seven years.

Williamson defends himself saying he's helped bring business to downtown, pave roads and clean up neighborhoods.

Harris said the group's roots are non-political and not based on getting anyone the mayor's job if Williamson were to be recalled. If the mayor is recalled, there would be a special election.

"People of all different stripes want to go in a new direction," Harris said.

Williamson said "they can do what they want."

He declined to personally criticize anyone on the committee except attorney Yeotis.

"My job is to protect the taxpayer's money, and not give it to Dean Yeotis," Williamson said.

Yeotis said he was motivated to join the recall effort after seeing first-hand how Williamson's poor leadership was hurting the city.

"I have never been involved in anything political until now," Yeotis said. "At some point you have to take a look around and say, if no one else is doing anything, you have to do it."

Poplar said she expects the mayor to wage personal attacks against the recall leaders.

"My past has nothing to do with the failed leadership of Mayor Williamson's administration," said Poplar, who most recently created a stir when in 2007 she decried the fact that there were two white candidates vying for mayor in a majority-black city.

But, not all the recall leaders are so outspoken, choosing instead to quietly steer the recall movement.

Weighill declined to comment and Eason could not be reached for comment.

Hetherington also declined to comment, noting his legal battles against the city over the city's policy about speaking to the media.

As for the group's tactics, by all accounts they appear more organized than the successful 2002 effort to recall then-Mayor Woodrow Stanley.

"We didn't really have any organization, any committees," said Mike Keeler, who was involved in the Stanley recall. "We didn't do any fundraising. I would say they are much better organized."

By paying some people to collect signatures, at $1 per valid signature, the anti-Williamson group diverged from the all-volunteer effort of 2002.

Harris makes no apologies for it, saying that they needed to pay people to collect enough signatures to force it on the ballot. The decision also drained the group of nearly all of its bank roll; Harris said Friday it had less than $200 left.

And Harris said another tactical decision was creating a 501(c)4 -- the designation for political accounts set up as nonprofits to avoid campaign finance laws, including disclosure of contributors.

If they had formed a traditional election committee, the names of donors and how much they gave would have to be filed with the Genesee County elections office.

Some examples of 501(c)4 committees include moveon.org and the National Rifle Association.

Harris said he believes they wouldn't get nearly as many donations -- including some already received from city employees -- if the donors knew their names would eventually become public.

"Everything we are doing is legal and above board," Harris said.

Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics, said by sidestepping traditional campaign finance regulations , the recall organizers do "marginally cede some of the high moral ground."

Rick Hetherington

Greg Eason

But he said the extra money is probably worth any minor backlash due to lack of disclosure.

"They're going to be outspent (by Williamson), but they have to be able to raise enough money to at least get their message out," Ballenger said.

Ballenger said the recall, especially if it's successful, won't help Flint's image.